Samsung Announces Galaxy SmartTag 3 with iOS Support and Bluetooth 6.0
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy SmartTag 3 with Bluetooth 6.0 and iOS support, while dropping the built-in keychain hole.
Samsung has announced the third generation of its tracking tags, the Galaxy SmartTag 3.
Beyond the technical upgrades, the most interesting news is the change in approach and the opening of the ecosystem with support for iOS devices. Sharing is done through the SmartThings platform, which for the first time allows Android and iPhone users in the same family to locate shared items and share locations together.
However, the resemblance to Apple does not stop here, and it seems Samsung is drawing inspiration from the wrong place again. Unlike previous generations, the SmartTag 3 copies the most prominent drawback of the AirTag by completely abandoning the built-in hole for attaching a keychain. The decision to remove the built-in hole is quite surprising, especially given that this was one of the prominent competitive advantages of the previous tags over Apple's competitor. This means users will now have to spend extra money on accessories just to attach the tag to their keys or suitcase.
In addition, Samsung has abandoned the rough plastic finish in favor of a smooth design with a prominent metallic button, which may look better, but could also be more sensitive to scratches. The good news is that the new generation comes with a more compact design, being about 35 percent smaller and 33 percent lighter compared to the previous generation.
Tracking and Performance
In the tracking sector, the tag combines the Bluetooth 6.0 standard with an advanced UWB chip, providing precise guidance from a distance of up to 60 meters, a threefold improvement over previous models. As usual, tracking relies on Samsung's device network, which, according to the company, includes over 900 million active smartphones worldwide tracking the tag in the background.
Samsung has also integrated several features into the tag, such as Lost Mode, which is based on an NFC component and allows displaying a message with your contact details when the tag is scanned by the phone of the finder. Meanwhile, the Left Behind alert immediately notifies you when the smartphone loses connection with the item. Battery life (using a replaceable CR2032 coin cell) stands at 550 days in normal mode and 790 days in battery saving mode.
The tag will first launch in South Korea this coming October. Samsung has not yet announced an official price, but market estimates point to a price tag of around 30 dollars for a single tag and about 100 dollars for a pack of four.
